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Boosting Immune Response to Hepatitis B DNA Vaccine by Coadministration of Prothymosin -Expressing Plasmid

Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100850, People's Republic of China

Received 6 May 2005/ Returned for modification 24 June 2005/ Accepted 29 September 2005

DNA vaccines induce protective humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in several animal models. However, compared to conventional vaccines, DNA vaccines usually induce poor antibody responses. In this study, we report that coadministration of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccine with prothymosin as an adjuvant improves antibody responses to HBV S antigen. We also observed higher seroconversion rates and higher antibody titers. Prothymosin appears to increase the number and affinity of hepatitis B surface antigen-specific, gamma interferon-secreting T cells and to enhance cellular immune response to the PreS2S DNA vaccine. Interestingly, administering the DNA separately from the prothymosin plasmid abrogated the enhancement of DNA vaccine potency. The results suggest that prothymosin may be a promising adjuvant for DNA vaccines.